Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-05-07
Ans Wen That Ends Well.

Ans Wen That Ends Well.
The election of Hon. c. j. FAULK-
MIR, Jr., to be United States senator
from West Virginia TO succeed the Hon.
JOHNSON n. CAMDEN was a happy go
luton of the difficult problem with
which the Democrats in the Legisla-
ture of that State had for some time
found themselves confronted. We sup
ported Mr.. CAMDEN as the regular nomi-
nee of the Democratic party; and we
ridiculed Mr.. LUCAss absurd conten-
ton that the Legislature had no right TO-
elect United States senator at a called
session. This contention met.with the
fate il had merited-it was treated
with contemptuous indifference, and
the man who set it up was honored with
only two votes in Legislature of nine
ty members. We are more than salts
fed, now that he has been so severely
punished for disrupting the Democratic
party of West Virginia, and been re-
manded to the delights of private life
never thence to emerge. We are
pleased also to know that the Senator
elect was the man preferred by Mr..
CAMDEN as his successor. Mr.. CAM
DES's letter declining to continue the
contest says;
1.-THE time has come, however. when
a double obligation seems to confront
me. The first is to assure you Of my
sense of gratitude to you, collectively
and individually, for your devoted
loyalty to the party and to me through
this protracted struggle. To this de-
sire 10 add likewise strong sense OF
gratitude to those other gentlemen who
have magnanimously supported my
election. The second IL to announce
my conviction that the best interests of
the Democratic party and the State re-
auire that shall ask you to consider
my name no further in connection with
the senatorial election, but to support
some other gentleman upon whom you
can agree, and whom l trust you may
be able to elect"
But Mr.. CAMDEN stipuiated-not in
so many words, but in eflect-that there
was to be no caucus. He said:
"Your own sense of Justice will at
once repel the idea that caucus shall
be held with the understanding that |
an the only Democrat in the State who
is unworthy of its consideration. A
minority may defeat the expressed will
of the majority, and this at the expense
of party practices Of whose benefits
they have every one been the recipient,
but never with the assent of my friends
shall the tyranny of arbitrary revolt
disfranchise even the humblest citizen
in the ranks of the Democratic party
There was, therefore, no caucus, as
Mr.. CAMDHN's supporters constituted
three fourths of the Democrats in the
General Assembly. Without having
agreed upon q nominee in caucus, the
Democrats the next day elected Mr..
FAULKNER on the first ballot. A tele-
gram in yesterdays Washington Post
says:
1.-THE election Of Judge Faulkner
was peculiarly gratifying to Senator
Camdens friends. He has been a life
long friend of Camden's, and on the
tariff, currency, and all other great
questions Of the day his views and
Camden's accord. The vote which de-
cided his election was cast by the dele
gate from Camden's home, Judge Kel-
lar, and the election was brought about
on an agreement entered into by Cam
den's friends last year.
In Martinsburg, Judge FAULKSER's
home, on Thursday night, the Berkely
County Democratic Association and the
Sherman Invincibles "a Republican
club, accompanied by the Martinsburg
City Band, proceeded in body to the
residence Of Senator-elect FAULKNER,
and rendered their congratulations at
his election to the United States Senate.
He responded briefly and appropriate
ly. II is added in the Post that Mar
tinsburg is elated over bis election, as
the Judge is very popular with both
parties.
KgNSA and FAULKSERare both young
men, comparatively.
West Virginia has reason to be proud
OF them both. Few States can boast
two superior senator's.
We fear that next year there will be
dissensions in the Democratic ranks in
West Virginia growing out of the pro-
trscted senatorial contest which has
ended so fortunately; but as it lid end
fortunately, We are justified in indulging
the hope that the whole affair may ter
inmate as fortunately.